title: Iron oxide @ polypyrrole nanoparticles as a multifunctional drug carrier for remotely controlled cancer therapy with synergistic antitumor effect.
abstract: Multifunctional nanoplatforms that are safe and have multiple therapeutic functions together with imaging capabilities are highly demanded in the development of new cancer theranostic approaches. A number of near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing inorganic nanomaterials, although having shown great promise not only to photothermally ablate tumors but also to enhance the efficacy of other types of therapies, are not biodegradable and would be retained in the body for a long time. Herein, we develop a multifunctional nanocomposite by coating magnetic iron oxide nanoclusters with a near-infrared light-absorbing polymer polypyrrole (PPy), obtaining Fe3O4@PPy core-shell nanoparticles, which after functionalization with polyethylene glycol could be used for imaging-guided, remotely controlled cancer combination therapy. In this system, the Fe3O4 core, which could be gradually decomposed in physiological environments, is useful for magnetically controlled drug delivery as well as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast. The PPy shell, as an organic polymer, is able to load therapeutic molecules with aromatic structures and also exhibits a strong photothermal effect, which can be used to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy, showing an outstanding in vivo synergistic antitumor effect. Our work encourages further exploration of light-absorbing polymer-based nanocomposites for cancer combination therapy under remote physical controls.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yumeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guangbao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D011758:Pyrroles; C000499:ferric oxide; C067635:polypyrrole; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols